Musical system



June 20, 1939. v A A KUCHER 2,163,096

MUS ICAL SYSTEM Filed July 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR &1Mia-'41.. ATTORNEY June 20, 1939. A. A. "KUCH'E'R 2,163,096

' MUSICAL SYSTEM Filed July 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 35l- 8 BYA W ATTORNEY June 20, v1939. KUCHER MUSICAL SYSTEM Filed July 21, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 3 -ILZ 2 a l I INVENTOR ;Lu Nd/ llL/LJ ATTORNEY June 20,1939. A. A. KUCHER M SICAL SYSTEM Filed July 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4(if g 4 INVENTOR BY AW ATTORNEY named June 20, 1939 uhl'rsn s'rArssPATENT. .orrlcs mfl fiitfi 0.... ADM"! Jill! 2L 193, 8011.1 80. 91,72

My invention relates to the art of reproducing sound and particularly tothe art of reproducing musical notes and tones.

Generally speaking, my invention contemplates the use of a plurality ofwheels or bands, each carrying on its peripheral surface the wave formpatterns of eight fundamental notes of the musical scale arranged inoctave relation. These wheels; and consequently the wave form patterns,rotating at a speed calculated to produce perfect pitch of the notespatterned thereon, produce impulses or frequencies which may betransmitted to a sound reproducing device either by means of a lightsensitive circuit or by a magnetic pick-up circuit.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved system suchas just described. Incident to this primary object of my invention arenumerous more specific objects, the attainment of which all-materiallycontribute to the achievement of the primaryobject. These more specificobjects, all of which will be apparent from the following specification,claims and drawings, include the following:

(1) To provide improved wheels or hands wherein the wave form patternsare carried on the peripheral surfaces thereof, and to employ as many ofsaid wheels as there are octave groups.

(2) To provide a*frictionless drive common to all of the wheels wherebythey may be driven at speeds calculated to produce perfect pitch of thenotes patterned thereon.

(3) To provide a magnetic'drive common to all of the wheels or hands. I

(4) To provide an improved source of light in the form of individualspark gaps for each wave form pattern.

(5) To provide improved circuits containing magnetic pick-ups or lightsensitive cells for transmitting impulses from the wave form patterns toa reproducing device.

(6) Toprovide improved methods of impressing the wave term patterns onthe periphery of the units.

(7) To provide a compact unit, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andcapable .of producing notes and tones of theoretical perfect pitch.

, Further objects will appear from the following specification andclaims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of a portion of my improved system showingtwelve units mounted on steps constituting shafts of varying diameters;

Fig. 2 is a; section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l with certain otherelements of my improved system shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a portion of another embodiment of myinvention showing the units mounted on shaft of uniform diameter;

Fig. 4 is'a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.

3 with certain other elements shown diagrammatically;

5 is a plan view of another embodiment of a portion of my invention;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the an 5; a front elevation of theapparatus view in elevation of the apparatus in Fig. 1 withanimprovement in the arrangement of magnetic pick-ups;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the apparatus shown in 8 10 is a diagrammaticview ofv twelve units in Fig. l, in combination with an improved sourceof light; v

i1 is an elevation of an improved arrangeof the system of arcs shown inHg. 10;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig.1i; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the periphery of one of the wheels used in theembodiments of my invention;

' Fig. 14 is a top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2modified to include an improved light valving arrangement.

In the drawings I have illustrated various modiiiedforms of my improvedsystem all employlng twelve similar wheels or hands, each wheel carryingthe wave form patterns of eight fundamental notesof the scale in octaverelation. The peripheral surface of one of such wheels is shownin Pig.l3, and carried thereon are eight wave form patterns arranged in theform of tracks extending circumferentially of the wheel. These tracksare designated by the reference characters a, b, c, d, e, I, a, and hand have frequencies in octave relation. All of the wheels aresimilarly-constructed and carry the same patterns.

The wave form patterns may be formed on the peripheral surface of thewheel in different ways. For example, they may be etched or embossed onthe peripheral surface, and, if a magnetic pickup means is to be used,the peripheral surface may be made of magnetic material such as iron. 0rsuch wave forms, when etched or embossed, may be polished to reflectlight upon a photo electric cell or cells. Or the wave form patterns maybe formed in photographic film shaped into the form of a wheel ormounted on the peripheral surface of the wheel. Or, if desired, the waveform patterns may be formed in opaque material roll about the steps 11without slippage.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown therein an embodiment ofapparatus wherein wave form patterns similar to those of Fig. 13 may beused to produce all of the frequencies of the musical scale. Suchapparatus is-shown as including a frame 10 carrying a motor ll providedwith a shaft 13. The shaft 13 is mounted in the bearings 14 and I5 and,intermediate the enlargement 16 formed on its right hand end and themotor II, the shaft is provided with a plurality of steps I! forming ineffect shafts of different diameters. In the particular embodimentshown, a means I2 is provided for magnetizing thesteps 11. This means isshown in the form of an electromagnet and the enlargement l6 constitutesthe core thereof. However, it should be understood that the steps ll maybe in the form of permanent magnets themselves and in such case, theelectromagnet may be dispensed with.

On each'of the steps 11 is suspended a wheel or band 19 held in positionby the magnetic pull exerted on the wheels by reason, of the magneticfield created in the shaft 13 by the electromagnet 12; To preventdisplacement of the wheels while the shaft is rotating, the frame I 11carries guides 20 in the form of a comb extending between the wheels l9.

In the particular embodiment now being considered, the wheels 19 aremade of magnetic material such as iron and the wave form patterns may beformed therein in any of the ways described in connection with Fig. 13.

The apparatus'so far described operates as follows. The electromagnet l2sets up a magnetic field in the shaft 13 thereby causing the wheels 19to be held-securely against the steps ll of the shaft 13. The operationof the motor 12 will cause rotation of the shaft 13 and its steps I! andconsequently the wheels 19 will Due to the fact that the steps are ofdifferent diameters, the wheels 18 will roll at different speeds.Since'all of the wave form patterns are in octave relation on any onewheel, the speed thereof can be calculated to produce perfect pitch ofall of the notes patterned thereon.

With respect to the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the proper speed of allof the wheels maybe attained by the use of wheels and steps of thefollowing dimensions:

Diameter of Inner Wheel ggg mg diameter mounted wheel In the abovespecific example, the dimensions of the remaining parts may be asfollows:'

Outside diameter of wheels 3.875 Diameter of armature shaft .5 Diameterof magnet core i 1.875 Width of each wheel .300 Distance between eachwheel 025 Speed of motor shaft R.P.M. 18011 With the wheels carryingwave forms in the ratio of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256respectively, the apparatus when constructed in accordance with theabove dimensions, and operated at the specified speed, will producefrequencies corresponding to all of the notes of the musical scale, andthese frequencies may be transmitted to a sound reproducing device indifferent ways as hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In Fig. 2, I have shown diagrammatically a system containing a lightsensitive cell or cells as the means fortransmitting the impulses to thesound reproducing device. This circuit contains the loud speaker 21, theamplifier 22, light sensitive cell 23, a light slit 21, and a source oflight 26 common to all of the wheels 19. An individual shutter 24, eachwith its individual key control 25, is provided for each wave formpattern so that by depressing one or more keys, light is admitted to andreflected ,by one or more wave form patterns as the case maybe. Thereflected light passes through the slit 21 to the cell or cells 23.

. In place of the source of light 23 common to all of the patterns, Imay use the arrangement shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. In Fig. 10, thewheels are shown diagrammatically at l9 and opposite each wave formpattern is located a spark gap. Several such gaps have been shown, but

since each gap is similar to each other gap, all

of them have not been shown. cludes the points One such gap in- 50 and51 and another the points 53 and 54. All of the gaps are connected inkey shunt relation; that is to say, each gap is short circuited by itskey except when the key is depressed. To use other words, depressing ofa key causes the spark to jump the gap controlled by that key. r

When key 58 is depressed, current flows from 'thesource of high tension,high frequency alternating current 51 through the leads, 55,59. and 60and back through the remaining keys and the lead. 56 to the source 51.Thus, a spark jumps the gap 50-5l and this spark serves as the source oflight for the wave form site the gap 50--5l.

If both keys so and 62 are depressed at the same time, then currentflows from the source 51 through leads 55, 59 and 60, thence through thekeys tov the line 64. and back to the source 51 through the lines 65 and56. In this case, sparks jump both the gaps 5ll-5l and 53,-54 and serveas the sources of light for the wave form patterns opposite the gaps50-51 and 53-54.,

The circuit is so arranged that sparks may cell or cells. Such a circuitwould include the light sensitive cell or cells, the loud speaker, theamplifier, etc. ..No shutters would be required, however, since thelight is present only when desired.

Since high tension, high frequency alternating current is continuouslyproduced by device 51, a-

bleeder spark gap 66 is provided to prevent short circuiting of thespark gap system when none of the keys are depressed. Y

To prevent jumping of the spark at places other .than'at the sans, theleads to the gaps may be pattern located oppoarranged as shownin Figs.11 and 12. A frame arranged in the form of an are It extends the widthof the wheels ll andthe leads it to the various gaps are supportedtherein in staggered relation so that theyare spaced apart a greaterdistance throughout their length than at their terminals. e

I have, likewise, shown an improved embodiment of an electrical magneticpick-up circuit for transferring the impulses to the reproducing device,which pick-up device may be used in place of the light sensitive circuitdescribed .in connection with Fig. 1. Such an apparatusis shown in Fi s.8' and 9 wherein the frame-ll is mounted to oscillate about the shaftit. The 'frame il' carries a plurality of electromagnets I, one for eachwave form pattern, and all of the magnets are connected in parallel withan emplifier- 22' and a reproducing device 2i and each of the parallelcircuits are each controlled by its individual key II. The magnets are.arranged in groups and the groups II are spaced circumferentially of'the frame I. as shown in Fig. 9. The frame it is mounted to oscillatewith respect to the shaftil' in order to cause pitch modulation. Anyconventional means for causing this oscillation may beused. In thepresentembodiment, I have provided a spring ",pivotd at N and having itsfree end held between the pins I mounted on the frame it and'its righthandendactuated by the key It. In the present embodiment, the key it isshown as a special key for causing thisoscillation. However, if it isdesired to provide for the oscillation of the frame whenever any of thekeys 2'', the free end of the spring may. be secured to a cross memberadapted to be moved by depressing one or more of such keys.

With this arrangement, depressing the key I, or one or more of the keys2! if such-keys are arranged to actuate the spring, will move the freeend of the spring downwardly. This will cause the other end of thespring to vibrate or oscillate and consequently the frame will oscillatethereby producing a verbretto eflect.

In Figs. 1 and 2'the variation in the speed of the units is broughtabout by varying the diameter of the driving shaft. The same ultimateresult may bb obtained by varying the inside diameter of the wheelswhile maintaining the diameter of the driving shaft uniform throughoutits length. Such apparatus is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the drivingshaft It" is uniform throughout its driving length and the innerdiameters of the wheels I!" are varied. Such apparatus is otherwisesimilar to the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 and it may be used incombination with any of the circuits for transmitting the impulses to areproducing device, as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Byway of illustration, I have shown the use of a light sensitive circuitin Fig. 4, consisting of the source of light 28", the slit 21" and thecell or cells 28".

The combination of apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4, for example, thesource of light illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 or the magnetic pick-upcircuit of Figs. 10, 11 and 12, has not been illustrated, but isobviously within the scope of my invention.

In Figs. 5, 6 and '1, I have shown an arrangement wherein the wheels aremechanically driven in place of the magnetic drive of the previousembodiments. In these figures, the wheels W are mounted on individualhearings on a stationary shaft. Each wheel has formed on its peripheralsurface a sharp edge ll adapted to frictionally engage the rotating discII. In thisembodiment, the disc constitutes the driving member directlyconnected to the armature shaft ll' of ferred to the useof individualkeys for each frequency. I may arrange these keys so that actuation ofone key will produce partial acttiationof theshutters,sparks,or pick-upscontrolled by other keys so as to obtain harmonic combinations ofvaryingintensities. InFig. 14, I have shown such an arrangement whereinthe reference character ll represents an element attached to the key Nand adapted to partially engage adjacent shutters when the key I isdepressed. In this manner, when the shutter or gap controlled by the keyI. is actuated, several other adiacent shutters or gaps are therebypartially actuated. In this manner harmonic combinations are formed andsince the actuation of the shutters or gapsis only partial, theintensity of the harmonicgconibinations thus formed varies. I

The forms of my improved musical instrument as herein described, aresmall compact units, economical to manufacture and result in theproduction of notes and tones of perfect pitch. ,The number of hearingsor wearing parts is reduced to a minimum, assuring perfect pitch withoutad- Justment of either driving or driven members.

It should be understood, however, that other forms of my invention arepossible, all within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination comprising a plurality of wave form patterns, a soundreproducing device, means for transmitting impulses from said wave formpatterns to said sound reproducing device, and means for causingmovement of the wave said last named means consisting of a shaft, meansfor driving the shaft, and a magnetic connection between the said shaftand the wave form patterns.

2. The combination comprising a plurality of wave form patterns, a soundreproducing device, magnetic pick-up means cooperating with said waveform patterns and forming a part of a cir cuit for transmitting impulsesfrom said wave form patterns to said sound reproducing device, and meansfor causing said wave form patterns to move relative to said magneticpick-up means, said last named means-consisting of a shaft, means fordriving the shaft, and a magnetic connection between said shaft and thewave form patterns.

3. The combination comprising a plurality of wave form patterns, a soundreproducing device, a photo-electric circuit for transmitting impulsesfrom said wave form patterns to said sound reproducing device, saidcircuit including a source of light, and means for causing relativemovement of said wave form patterns with respect to said source oflight, said means comprising a shaft, means for driving the shaft, and amagnetic connection between said shaft and the wave form patterns.

4. The combination comprising a plurality of form patterns relative tosaid transmitting means,

scale arranged in octave relation, a sound reproducing device, means fortransmitting impulses from said wave form patterns to said'soundreproducing device and means for causing relative movement of saidwheels with respect to each other and of all of said wheels with respectto said transmitting means, said last named means consisting of a shaft,means for driving the shaft, and a magnetic connection between saidshaft and said wheels.

5. The combination comprising aplurality of wheels, each carrying on itsperipheral surface the wave form patterns of notes of the musical scalearrangedin octave relation, means for-driving said wheels at difierentspeeds including a single shait having' portions of difierent diameter's, each of said wheels being supported on a different one of saidportions, a magnetic connection between all of said wheels and saidshaft, a sound reproducing device, and means for transmitting impulsesfrom said wave form patterns to said sound reproducing device.

6. The combination comprising a plurality of wheels, each carrying onits peripheral surface the waveform patterns of notes of the musicalscale, means for driving all ofsaid wheels so that each of said wheelsrotates at adifierent speed than each other wheel, said last named meansincluding shaft common to all of said wheels, a sound reproducingdevice, means for transmitting impulses from said wave form patterns tosaid sound reproducingdevice, and means for causing said wheels torotate with said shaft, said last named means consisting of a magneticconnection between said shaft and all of said wheels.

7. The combination comprising a plurality'of wave form patterns, a soundreproducing device, means for transmitting impulses from saidwave formpatterns to said sound reproducing device,

means for causing movement of the wave form patterns relative to saidtransmitting means, said last named means including a driving member anda magnetic connection between said driving member and said wave formpatterns.

8. The combination comprising a plurality of wave form patterns, a soundreproducing device,

a magnetic pick-up means cooperating with said of light, and means forcausing relative movement of said wave form patterns with respect tosaid source of light, said last named means including a driving memberand a magnetic connection between the driving member and the wave formpatterns.

10. The combination comprising a plurality of wheels each carrying onits peripheral surface the wave form patterns of notes of the musicalscale arranged in octave relation, a sound reproducing device, means fortransmitting impulses from said wave form patterns to said soundreproducing device and means for causing relative movement of saidwheels with respect to each other andof all of said-wheels with respectto said transmitting means, said last named means consisting of adriving member and a magnetic connection between the driving member andthe wave form patterns.

ANDREW A; KUCHER.

